“She always felt like a friend in your living room when she was on TV. A magical lady.

“She had a huge, huge talent once she got her confidence. She became a national favourite, an enduring family favourite.”

David Cameron tweeted: “Cilla Black was a huge talent who made a significant contribution to public life in Britain. My thoughts are with her family.”

Born as Priscilla Maria Veronica White in Liverpool, Black had spoken of how she would die happy if she were to pass away before any illness could rob her of being able to enjoy life.

As the much-loved entertainer approached her 71st birthday last year, she said that 75 might be an ok age to die.

She became one of the nation’s favourite entertainers after t ransforming herself from a successful singer in the 1960s to the front woman on shows such as Blind Date and Surprise! Surprise!

An associate of The Beatles and their manager Brian Epstein in the early 1960s, she scored two number ones in 1964 - Anyone Who Had A Heart and You’re My World - as well as enjoying many other hits, before going on to concentrate on TV.

She went on to host more than 500 editions of her programmes and was the first woman to have her own prime-time chat show on BBC1.

The life of the entertainer was portrayed in an ITV biopic last year, which followed the story of the typist’s rise to fame.

Cilla, which starred Sheridan Smith and pulled in more than seven million viewers, propelled the singer briefly back in to the music charts with Anyone Who Had A Heart.

Tony Hall, director-general of the BBC, said: “Cilla Black was a wonderful artist and talented entertainer who brought joy to millions. She will be deeply missed.”

Sir Bruce Forsyth said he could not believe that Black had died aged 72 as he still thought of her as a “kid”.

The TV presenter and entertainer said that Black was loved by everyone and had the “common touch”.

Sir Bruce, 87, told ITV News: “Bobby will be there to meet her, she never really got over Bobby her husband leaving when he did.

“What a lovely performer, what a lovely lady and we’re going to miss you.”